may god bless his memory and keep him in peace. >> president obama speaking at the white house on the death of nelson mandela, the former president of south africa, dead at the age of 95. the president speaking about the road from prisoner to president and the peaceful transfer of power in south africa. here to tell us more, i want to joining john walcott, us from washington, d.c. tell us more about nelson mandela. you have interviewed him and spoken with him? >> i have, and it was a privilege. as the president said, it was a privilege for all of the thousands of people who met him. one of the most remarkable people i have ever met. i never had a chance to meet ghandi and others, but he is absolutely in that league. at a time our politicians here in the united states seem to ave trouble reaches across the aisle, this man reached across a chasm that seems almost unimaginable and brought the two sides that as a reporter in the 1980's i did not think was possible. >> can you describe your meeting? where was it, how long was it, and what was it like to be in the same room? >> it was in th